Proofreaders Marks Basic Tools for Proofreading and Editing

Proofreaders’ Marks Basic Tools for Proofreading and Editing

Editing Printed Documents Use a pen with contrasting-colored ink. Use standard proofreaders’ marks to show corrections. Mark all corrections clearly.

Correcting General Errors Use a caret ( ) to show an insertion. Place a diagonal (/) through an unwanted letter. Change a letter by placing a diagonal through it and writing the correct letter above it.

Deleting and Changing Delete words and phrases by running a horizontal line through them. Change text by first deleting it and then writing the correction above the deletion.

Transposing Use the transposition symbol to indicate a reversal of keystrokes, words, phrases, and even sentences.

Closing Up and Inserting Spaces Close up an extra space with loops above and below the space. Show where a space is needed by using the insertion caret and placing the number sign directly above the caret.

Just a few more proofreaders’ marks. . .

Changing Internal Punctuation + – ± To add internal punctuation, place the comma, semicolon, or colon inside a caret at the point of insertion. To delete internal punctuation, place a diagonal through the mark. To change internal punctuation, delete the incorrect mark and insert the correct one.

Changing Closing Punctuation + To add closing punctuation, write periods, question marks, and exclamation marks—and circle them. – To delete closing punctuation, place a diagonal through the mark. ± To change closing punctuation, delete the incorrect mark and add the correct one; circle the new mark.

Other Punctuation Add quotation marks or an apostrophe by placing the mark in an inverted insertion mark ( ). Add a hyphen by using the insertion mark ( ) at the point of entry and placing an equal sign (=) directly above the caret.

Capitalizing Words º To show that a single letter should be capitalized, place three short lines under it. º To show that entire words should be capitalized, underline the word or word group three times.

Correcting Capitalized Words Place a diagonal ( / ) through a capital letter that should appear in lowercase form. Use a diagonal and a straight line to show which letters should not be capitalized in words appearing in all capital letters.

Number Usage If a figure should be written in words, circle the figure. If a number written in word form should be in figures, draw a horizontal line through it and write the correct figure or figures above it.

Abbreviations If an abbreviation should be spelled out, circle the abbreviation. If a word or words should be abbreviated, draw a horizontal line through the word or words and write the abbreviation above the lined-out text.

Paragraphs To insert a new paragraph, place a paragraph mark (¶) at the point of insertion. To delete a new paragraph beginning, write No ¶ where the paragraphs are to be combined.